After he had cursed Dick and David Jenison to his
heart's content he came to a standstill in front of his unhappy
brother. Sticking out his lower jaw angrily he snapped:
"Where's the sapphire ring you got from the feller in
Charlottesville?"
"I--I still got it."
"Oh, I see!" sneered Ernie, drawing back. "You're saving it to give to
Ruby Noakes, eh? That's it, is it? Cheating me out of it to give to
her. An engagement ring, eh? Say, you--"
"Hold on, Ernie," said Dick sternly. "I'm not going to do anything of
the sort. Why--why, I couldn't give Ruby anything I'd stole. I
couldn't!"
"Aw, but you don't mind giving me things you've stole. I'm different,
am I? I'm not as good as she is, am I? Well, say, lemme tell you one
thing: Ruby Noakes ain't going to hook up with a sneak thief."
"Ernie," said Dick, going very white and speaking very slowly, "you
sometimes make me wish you'd 'a' died that time."
"I wish I had! Then they'd 'a' hung you."
"I was only nine," murmured Dick, trying to put his arm around his
brother, only to have it struck away with violence.
"And I was only four," scoffed the other.
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